Family Engagement Specialist II

The Family Engagement Specialist is a member of the Fostering Sustainable Connections program and identifies, engages and prepares potential permanent families and/or supportive permanent connections, for youth in the child welfare system, who are at risk of long term foster care. The position also identifies and nurtures family strength building and other family attributes to enhance the safety and well-being of children.

Essential Job Functions:

• Identifies, locates and tracks relatives, fictive kin and/or significant adults from the referred youths life.
• Engages identified family members/potential supportive adults using a strength-based approach, and is genuine and authentic when discussing the multiple options to support the permanency process for the youth.
• Assess readiness of the youth and/or family members/potential supportive adults for initial contact with youth and prepares them for this initial contact.
• Organizes, and facilitates family/connections meetings for each youth
• Prepares for contact by determining the family members/potential supportive adults cultural and language needs; transportation needs; and confidentiality and safety issues.
• Implements the 3-5-7 model of practice to address youths separation and loss issues in order to promote the youths readiness for permanency
• Respects the youth by providing a safe place and time for expression of feelings, explains the purpose of meetings and activities and demonstrates active listening and being present;
• Engages youth in activities that explore their lives and let them tell their story such through the use of life books, lifelines and connectedness maps, while always respecting the youths thoughts and feelings;
• Provides transportation for youth to activities associated with the program;
• Collaborates with DCS and other team members for each youth referred.
• Maintains a sense of urgency throughout the process and motivates the team toward proactive action.
• Openly discusses tensions and disagreements. Proactively identifies possible barriers and works with the team to collectively problem solve and monitor possible solutions.
• Maintains accurate and complete documentation.
• Participates in supervision meetings with the Program Supervisor and complies with on-going training requirements.

• Attends and participates in all required meetings.
• Performs work and represents AzCA in accordance with our mission, vision and values and Foundations for Success.
• Maintains consistent attendance and punctuality to provide consistency in serving clients.
• Performs other duties as assigned, which are consistent with the general responsibilities of the position.

Minimum Education & Experience:

• Bachelors degree with 5 years of related in-agency experience OR a Masters degree with 2 years of related experience
• Required experience will be in the Social Work, Psychology or Human Service Field (i.e. Group Home, Shelter Care, Behavioral Health field) working with children, families, and or adults.

Minimum Qualification & Requirements

• Must be 21 years of age (licensing requirement).
• Possess a valid Arizona drivers license and be insurable under the agencys automobile policy.
• Must be able to provide own transportation to and from clients homes and/or other relevant organizations/agencies-

• Must be able to provide DPS fingerprint clearance.
• Must be able to meet training and agency compliance requirements for the position.
• An individual may qualify for this position if the individual is able to perform safely the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.

AzCA is an EEO/Veterans/Disabled/LGBTQ employer.